Finalist
Health Care
Being in the right place at the right time is a key part of being successful in business these days, but success can also be attributed to keeping your eyes open and looking at the trends going on around you.
Prior to starting Simplex Diabetic Supply Inc., Larson Douglas “Doug” Hudson was the chairman and CEO of HearingPlanet Inc., which, under his leadership, became the largest online hearing aid distributor in the U.S. with more than 1,100 locations nationwide. With Hudson at the helm, the company set new industry benchmarks and created a new way to purchase hearing aids for patients. While there, he became interested in senior sector health care issues, including diabetes. He saw that 23.6 million Americans suffer from diabetes while 24 percent of diabetics remain undiagnosed. At the same time, another 40 million Americans are prediabetic, testing just under diabetic levels.
With those numbers, Hudson founded Simplex Diabetic Supply Inc. in 2007, and in less than two years, the company has already grown to be the third-largest diabetic supplier to Medicare and operates under the Diabetes Care Club and USA Medical Brands. The company now employs 240 associates and serves more than 130,000 patients.
Besides being successful in business, Hudson also feels it’s important to help the community. The company is a sponsor of the local American Diabetes Association. It also works with Big Brothers of Middle Tennessee and has a Little Brother internship program with pre- and post-skills assessment to help big brothers in career guidance. Simplex also donates supplies to a variety of overseas missions groups, and Hudson himself is actively involved with Crosspoint Church and KidsWorld.
How to reach: Simplex Diabetic Supply Inc., (800) 883-0608 or www.simplexdiabeticsupply.com
